Wike Names Galadima as New SSA on Development

ControlThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the appointment of Mukhtar Galadima as Senior Special Assistant on Development Control and Planning. The announcement was made on Wednesday in Abuja by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and Social Media. Galadima, a seasoned town planner, brings more than three decades of professional experience in urban planning and administration within the FCT Administration. Over the years, he has served in strategic capacities, including the Department of Development Control and the Satellite Towns Development Agency, before his appointment as Director of Development Control under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council in 2016. He retired from the civil service in November. Olayinka noted that Galadima has served on key committees such as the Abuja Masterplan Restoration Task Team and the Committee on the Review of Revoked Land Titles and Change of Land Use. The appointment, he added, takes immediate effect.

A Minister of Particular Concern

By Ugo Onuoha A Minister of Particular Concern “What happened between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Navy Lieutenant A.M. Yerima is unfortunate. When Wike arrived at the site of the disputed land in Abuja, the officer explained that he was simply obeying lawful orders. Wike should not have exchanged words with the officer; he ought to have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors. He is our colleague, and he could have reached out to us to resolve whatever issue there was. “The officer’s action was lawful—he was trained to be disciplined, loyal, and obedient to orders. Therefore, the young officer merely carried out his duty, which is worthy of commendation. He did not commit any offence under military regulations. If you observe carefully, he spoke respectfully and conducted himself properly. “There is, therefore, no offence under military law for which he should be charged. Wike should not have engaged him in an altercation, especially out of respect for the uniform he was wearing. Anyone who disrespects a soldier indirectly disrespects the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. There is, therefore, no basis for any punishment against the officer. This is not about supporting the military to act disrespectfully towards civilians. The Minister should understand that every officer has superiors. “I gathered that he called the Chief of Defence Staff, who advised him to wait for an investigation. However, he did not wait and instead went straight to the site. As a leader, he ought to have exercised patience and waited for the outcome of the investigation. Wike also contacted the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that an inquiry would be conducted. Yet again, he did not wait. It was supposed to be a one-day inquiry, but he chose to go there and confront them. Now that the Chief of Naval Staff has visited the area—since it involves a land dispute—the matter will be investigated to determine who owns the lawful documents. If the land has been revoked, there are established procedures to follow diplomatically. “We [the Ministry of Defence] have not received any formal complaint from Wike, but I called him after the video went viral and advised that he should have spoken with me before going there, rather than confronting the officers directly.” A Matter Effectively Closed I have chosen to reproduce the words of Alhaji Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, because of what they represent. Although he mentioned the need for further investigation, the tone and tenor of his statement suggest that the matter is effectively closed—and the naval officer has nothing to worry about. Lt. Yerima, by every indication, acquitted himself well. He was professional and measured in his conduct during that very public confrontation with a “super minister” known for his loquacity. To reinforce the sense that the matter is closed, one only needs to recall the words of the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, who stated that his ministry and the armed forces “will always protect our officers on lawful duty.” Badaru added: “We will not allow anything to happen to him so far as he is doing his job, and he is doing his job greatly well.” The defence minister made this statement during a ministerial briefing for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja. Let that sink in. You may call it esprit de corps, but several retired generals from both the North and the South—including former Chiefs of Defence Staff and Army Staff, Generals Lucky Irabor and Tukur Buratai—have spoken in Yerima’s defence. They even called for a public apology from Wike to both Yerima and the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Tinubu, for dishonouring a military officer commissioned by the President himself. Lawyers, Silence, and Political Optics Notable voices have weighed in on the Wike–Yerima confrontation over the disputed plot of land in Abuja last Tuesday. Some are lawyers—senior and junior—while others are political commentators and public intellectuals. A few have argued in favour of Wike, citing the 1999 Constitution (as amended), but the majority have faulted him, emphasizing due process, the rule of law, and the impropriety of resorting to self-help, as appeared to be the case here. As usual, the legal community has been divided—lawyers seldom agree on anything, even when the law seems straightforward to the “unlearned.” For most of the past week, they have been doing what they do best: lawyering. Their disputations may be intellectually stimulating, but one must not take them too seriously. Often, their arguments are shaped by convenient partisanship masquerading as constitutional fidelity. By the way, has anyone noticed the deafening silence from Wike’s colleagues in the Federal Executive Council? Nearly fifty cabinet members, yet not one has publicly spoken in his defence. Does this silence reflect how they truly regard the Minister? As for President Tinubu, who appointed Wike “on our behalf,” the Minister may well be beyond reproach or removal—for obvious political reasons. The Politics of 2023 and the Future of 2027 Wike appears untouchable—because of the past (2023) and the future (2027). President Tinubu, ever the political strategist, prioritizes electoral victory by any means necessary—the Machiavellian creed that the end justifies the means. And Wike fits perfectly into that school of thought. Tinubu “discovered” Wike in 2023, when the latter was nearing the end of his governorship of oil-rich Rivers State. Having fallen out with his own party, the PDP, Wike was eager to prove his relevance. Tinubu needed a foothold in the Niger Delta and, by extension, the national electoral map. In that year’s presidential election, Wike reportedly “delivered” Rivers State to Tinubu—an opposition candidate—in defiance of his own party’s standard-bearer, Atiku Abubakar. An APC governor from the North, astonished by Wike’s performance, allegedly remarked that his party merely begged for 25 percent of the votes but received an overwhelming—and inexplicable—victory. Unsurprisingly, the PDP still won the subsequent governorship election by a landslide, demonstrating the complex web of political transactions that define Nigerian

Confusion As Wike’s Office Refuses Protest Organiser’s Letter Requesting Use Of Eagle Square

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stirred controversy by refusing to acknowledge a formal request from the Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement, a key organizer of the upcoming nationwide protests.

Wike Slams N5m Charge On Abuja C-of-O

Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT says the FCT Administration has pegged cost of issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C- of-O) at N5 million. Wike made the pronouncement at a meeting he held with estate developers in Abuja. He said payment could be made within four months of land allocation after which the C-of-O would be handed over to the applicant. He added that he would seek the approval of President Bola Tinubu to link applicants’ National Identification Number to C-of-Os before issuance. Wike said the era where three or more persons were allocated the same plot of land with fake C-of-O was over. “Allocation of land to three or more persons will no longer be allowed because the C-of-O enables you to do business. “When we make the right decision, some people will be happy, and some will not. The rich will kick against some of our decisions, but anything that will help our people must be done,’’ Wike said. He promised to ensure orderliness and sanity in land administration system and processes in the FCT. The minister expressed worries that workers’ salaries at the FCT Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority gulped N8.9 billion monthly. Wike said he had saved N110 billion for the FCT barely three months into office and assured that the funds would be attached to specific projects. Wike inaugurated a taskforce on the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for housing estates and the recovery of land use contravention fees on November 14. He explained that the measure was to ensure that each unit in the housing estates had its separate C-of-O.

Wike Sacks Heads Of FCTA Parastatals, Agencies

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken the decision to dismiss the heads of various parastatals, agencies, and companies operating under the FCT administration (FCTA). This significant move was announced by Anthony Ogunleye, the Director of Press in the Minister’s office, through an official statement released on Wednesday. “The minister’s directive to relieve these officials of their positions is effective immediately, and new appointments to these offices will be made in due course. “As part of the transition process, all affected officials have been instructed to facilitate the smooth handover of their duties to the most senior officers in terms of rank,” the statement said. Below is a list of the entities and individuals affected by this decision: This development marks a significant change in the leadership landscape of the FCTA parastatals and agencies as the minister seeks to implement his vision and objectives within the Federal Capital Territory.

Wike Revokes 22 Allocations, Offers 3-Month Devt Window To 21 Embassies, 168 Others

In a significant move, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has revoked 21 plots of land in the Central Business District (CBD), citing violations of the terms of development as the primary reason for this decision. The revocation notice was formally issued by Mr. Olusade Adesola, the Permanent Secretary in the FCT Administration, who stated that the minister was exercising his authority under Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978. The lands were revoked due to “continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy, to wit non-development.” Several prominent entities were affected by this revocation, including Lowe Lintas, Tourist Company of Nigeria, Coscharis Motors, CFA Motors, and Chidol Properties, among others. In a parallel development, the FCT Minister also extended a three-month grace period to 189 titleholders who have acquired Building Plan Approvals but have not yet initiated development on their respective properties. The official statement from the Director of Information and Communication in the FCTA, Muhammad Hazat Sule, explained that this grace period is an opportunity for these titleholders to commence development or risk having their titles revoked. This three-month grace period applies to a diverse group of stakeholders, including embassies and government agencies. Notable embassies such as the Embassy of Ireland, Embassy of France, Canadian High Commission, Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and several others are among those who have been granted this extension. Additionally, numerous government agencies, including those within the FCT Administration, fall under this category. The grace period also covers various other organizations and entities such as the Abuja National Mosque Council, Daily Times of Nigeria, Elf Petroleum, Access Bank, Federal Housing Authority, and several individuals including Adamu Ajuji Waziri, Isa Yuguda, Eyitayo Lambo, Abba Gana, Mohammed Abubakar Rimi, and more. It is emphasized that this extension is solely for those who have already acquired Building Plan Approvals and have expressed a genuine intent to develop their properties but have not initiated development. The FCT Administration emphasized that this extension is a gesture to support those who have demonstrated a clear commitment to property development by obtaining the necessary approvals. It is a response to their willingness to comply with the terms outlined in the Offer of the Right-Of-Occupancy. The statement further encourages affected property owners to make use of this opportunity and proceed with development within the stipulated three-month period. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of their titles, in accordance with the provisions of the law. The FCT Administration has extended this grace period to both individual property owners and corporate organizations that have shown a sincere desire to develop their properties. Simultaneously, the three-month grace period extended to 189 titleholders is a strategic move aimed at encouraging and facilitating property development within the Federal Capital City. Property owners, including embassies, government agencies, and corporate entities, are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to ensure the continued validity of their titles and contribute to the growth and development of the city.

Wike rejects repeated variations of Ushafa–Bwari Road project cost

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has rejected the repeated variations of the Ushafa – Bwari Road project contract amount. Wike declared his rejection while briefing journalists after a visit to the project sites along with the Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud and other government officials in Abuja on Thursday. He described the consistent variation of the contract cost of the project as “very embarrassing”, saying “this is not what we are going to take. “The job was awarded in 2017 at N20 billion. In 2020, the contract was revised to N50 billion. As I speak to you, they have paid about N50 billion and what is outstanding is about N900 million. “Now they are telling us that the N900 million is not enough to complete a job they said had reached 90 per cent completion. “Therefore, asking for another variation, we are not going to accept. Even the engineering services, we are going to overhaul the system,” he said. The minister complained of so many variations in contract amount being handled by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), which he described as “worrisome”. “I have never seen a thing like this in my life. What we see in FCDA contract variations from N10 billion to N119 billion and from N50 billion to N200 billion is alarming, and I am not going to accept this,” he said. Wike, who equally visited the rehabilitation of Lower Usuma Dam Water Works, Gurara Road in Bwari, also expressed displeasure on the delivery of the water project. The minister said he was told that the project was awarded as an emergency contract, but realised on getting to the project site that it has not been awarded fully. He said that he just found out that what was given to the contractor was just a letter of intent in Aug. 2022. “I knew the importance of this project in supplying water to our people within the city and its environs. Water is very important and so I have directed that the project is no longer an emergency,” he said. Wike said that the project would be re-awarded, adding that his office would supervise the procurement process and invite other companies to bid for the project. On abandoned projects, the minister said that more than 10 contracts have been selected and approved for completion, adding that agreements have been concluded with the contractors. He said that the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Mr Shehu Hadi, had been directed to make sure that all the files approved since last week goes to the Director of Treasury. He added that he has directed all payments to contractors be made latest by Friday. He explained that based on the tagging of each project to Internally Generated Revenue, each contractor would be paid a certain amount of money every month based on the agreed project completion period. “We agreed with some companies to deliver the projects in six months, and some 15 months. “In fact, like the millennium tower, they (contractors) have agreed to finish it in two years’ time, and we are paying them N3 billion every month. “On Monday we are flagging off the resurfacing of most of the roads in Garki, Maitama and Wuse because the roads are terribly bad,” the minister said.

We’ll deliver millennium tower project in 2 years –Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike declared that the ministry will deliver the Millennium Tower project in the next two years. Wike stated this in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with contractors handling different projects in the FCT. The Millennium Tower at Central Area, Abuja, is a multifunctional edifice with facilities for cultural exposition, tourism, socialisation, recreation, hospitality, and commercial activities. The project is being handled by Salini Construction Nigeria Limited but was abandoned due to lack of funds. He said that the tower was a very important project that would change the landscape of Abuja city. “It is a very ambitious project, but again if we are talking of Abuja being one of the best cities in the world, then we must have such a facility. “I can tell you it is not easy to go into that project, but we have decided that whatever it takes, it is going to be one of the legacy projects for President Bola Tinubu. “In fact, we are looking at the next two years, if the way we are going to structure our payment is agreeable with the contractor,” Wike said. NAN reports that the project, conceived in 2005 had reached 40 per cent completion, and is expected to, upon completion, self-finance itself from revenues generated from all the commercial activities in the complex. The scope of the project comprises a cultural centre with four museums, an expansive arcade consisting of 40,000m2 platform for hosting national and other events. It also consists of a five-star hotel with 55 luxury rooms and nine suites for about 130 persons, offices, passive and active recreational facilities, 1200 capacity auditorium, conference rooms, Others are exhibition halls, shops, a sport centre with an indoor pool, gyms, fitness, squash courts and a two-level 1,200 capacity basement car park. The millennium tower itself is a 170-meter-tall structure accommodating a revolving panoramic restaurant for more than 130 diners. The minister added that a careful analysis of all the awarded contracts with the contractors and his team have revealed that most of the projects were abandoned for lack of funds. “The Minister of State, myself, the permanent secretary, and directors have concluded that it is not possible to carry on with the entire projects in the FCT. “Therefore, we agreed to take them in order of priority. We have tried to work out most of the projects being handled by Julius Berger and agreed to see that these projects are fully completed,” he said. Wike added that the Villa Roundabout being handled by China Geo-engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Limited, would be completed in the next six to eight months. He equally said that the ministry would ensure the completion of the projects being handled by Cetraco Nigeria Ltd, and also put a facelift on Garki, Wuse and part of Maitama in the next one week. He said that the contractors would be mobilised immediately, adding that Asokoro would equally have a facelift in no distant time. On the Abuja light rail rehabilitation project, the minister said that an agreement has been concluded with CCECC Nigeria Limited to give them their money in the next two days so they can go to work. “We are also discussing with the company on the operation cost, because it will not be good to rehabilitate and then you cannot operate. “We have told them that on Thursday, we are going to meet to talk about the operation cost,” he said. Wike pointed out that part of the problems of the projects was because they were not being funded by the national budget. He said that in view of the funding challenge, the ministry would pick some projects that could be completed within a specific period and then decide on what to do again in the following year.

I didn’t purchase N300m bullet proof SUV -Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike has refuted claims of purchasing a N300 million Armoured Lexus LX600 SUV on assumption to office. Wike made the rebuttal shortly after a visit to Metro Train Station, Abuja on Wednesday to inspect ongoing rehabilitation of Abuja Rail Mass Transport System. Some sections of the media had published a picture of an Armored Lexus SUV model LX 600, fitted with ‘FCT – 01’ plate. The reports claimed that the SUV, which cost more than N300 million, belonged to the new FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. But Wike refuted the claim, describing it as mere “mischief”, stressing that he was sworn in on Monday and had not even sat down to work yet. He said that all he did was interact with staff and today (Wednesday), went to the Metro Train Station, Abuja with the Minister of State for FCT to see things for themselves. “We are now going back to the office to interact with each of the departments in the Federal Capital Territory Administration. “But I have seen what is going on in the social media, how the FCTA Permanent Secretary bought a bullet proof car of N300 million that I am using. “So, I want you people to go hit your hand there (on the car) and see whether it is a treated car. “With all due respect, people should be careful not to destroy other people,” he said. He explained that when he resumed, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Adesola Olusade had told him that the FCTA has cars that the ministers would use. “And the car we use is this (pointing at a regular Lexus SUV). “I have never approved for any car to be bought and I have not used any official bullet proof car. “I am not using a bullet proof car as FCT Minister, so we should report the right thing, and not destroy ourselves. “I want you to take a look at the car I came with, the one with the flag and see whether it is a bullet proof car”, he asked the journalists at the scene. In a related development, the Director Press, Office of the Minister, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, dismissed claims by some media outfits that Wike plans to demolish 6,000 houses across 30 settlements in Abuja, including Wadata Plaza. “We would like to categorically state that these stories are entirely false and without any basis,” Ogunleye said. He explained that the story on the demolition of 6,000 houses was reported by a national daily newspaper on Aug. 22, with the caption “Abuja land: FG may revoke land allocations, demolish 6000 buildings, slums”. He added that another mainstream newspaper also published what he described as an “irritating story”, with a caption, “Wadata Plaza will go down, Reactions trail Wike’s demolition threat”. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Minister did not in any of his pronouncements list the areas or the number of illegal houses to be removed. “Rather, his emphasis has always been that illegal settlements and structures would be removed for the greater good of the public. “Equally vexing” is the headline from a reputable broadcast station saying, “I will fix Abuja in 6 days” and attributed the same to the FCT Minister. “We wish to state quite clearly that at no time did the Honourable Minister say this or allude to this phrase in any way. This headline, therefore, is borne purely out of mischief,” he said. The director press pointed out that such sensational reporting not only misleads the public but also undermines the vital role that accurate and well-researched journalism plays in society.